Pack Your Bags
Packing tips:
This was not an easy task. For months I agonized over it. We printed and read the suggested pack list, talked to friends who had taken the trip, watched YouTube videos, and slowly a pile grew on the guest room bed that looked like an REI volcano. How will you know what you need? What will you use? The truth is the river won’t reveal that information until your boots are on the sand. It is a baptism by fire.
I followed the AZRA website’s suggested pack list and then added a few things. I had great advice from seasoned rafters that helped too. I did my best, but in the end, I packed too much. I always journal after trips like these reminding myself of what worked and what didn’t. I’ll share that here with you, and then you can make your own choices, should you go.
Clothing:
Locating my stuff during the trip was a little frustrating. Less time looking for gear on the river means more time enjoying the river. Some preparation helped.
Investing in a nylon duffel the same size of the dry bag we were given for our “checked luggage” was key. You can practice packing at home and not be totally thrown off once you receive your dry bag at orientation. Then each night at camp, slide out your duffel in one action, rather than fishing through a deep dark dry bag for your belongings.
Reusable Ziplock packing bags (available at container stores or online) were awesome. I put one day’s worth of clothes in each bag, pushed out the air, and rolled them into my duffel. They are clear so you can see what you have.
I brought camp clothes, but wore mostly two knee-length sleeveless dresses at the end of each day. You can wear them while cleaning up or after, and then to bed. That was easier than changing into another night shirt in the dark, and it was too hot to wear anything with sleeves or little shorts. Pockets in your dress are great for toothpaste or carrying shampoo to the river.
One bathing suit top and bottom that can be worn swimming and cliff jumping, under shorts and a quick dry tank, was perfect.
Having two quick dry sun shirts (I like the button up collared type) to keep arms covered during the day or dip in the water to cool off worked great. Three quick-dry hiking shorts and a pair of gym shorts for over a bathing suit, or to wear in camp, worked too.
I brought a sarong to take on the boat each day to wet and cover shoulders or legs. On hot nights, I dipped this in the river and slept with it over the body to cool down.
You should also bring multiple bandanas for cooling your neck, bathing, keeping your hat on, and cleaning feet before bed. They are quick-drying and don’t take much space.
I had a wide-brim hat and a cap, and wore the cap more. I hated that the hat brim got floppy when wet. Whatever hat you bring, you must tether it to your shirt. Sometimes I tethered mine to my ponytail holder, as all the straps around my neck with the PFD made me a little nuts.
I didn’t really wear my socks or neoprene socks, but I’m glad I had them. A lot of rafters wore socks for sun protection with their sandals. I took a beanie, leggings, and long hike pants I never wore, but I’m glad I had them just in case.
I wore a zip-up fleece light jacket a few nights. A rain jacket and pull-on rain pants are a must.
I brought hiking boots, but only wore them once. They took up a lot of room and were heavy. Teva shoes do double duty if they are comfy, and you can wear them with socks. A lightweight trail runner would have been good too. Bring old flip flops for camp, and duct tape. Several rafters’ shoes came unglued in the water and heat. Having lived in Arizona a long time, I have learned that you never leave your wet flip flops in the heat to dry. The glue tends to come unglued. Tuck them in the shade to dry.
Quick-dry undies for day, cotton for night was a good choice. Undies don’t take much room and you can wash them out.
Toiletries:
Take a nail file. You will break every nail.
A small mirror is helpful. Multiple lip balms, small hand creams, and sunscreen tubes were helpful. At some point you won’t be able to find where you left one. One seasoned rafter used a sunglass leash to keep chapstick around her neck.
Biodegradable soap, shampoo, and a laundry bar worked great. Check out Ethique, they even have a biodegradable luffa bag for the bar soap that makes clean up easy. I brought four small wire chip clips that were invaluable for hanging and clipping laundry up to dry. I did laundry once.
My hair got super tangled in all the wind. A leave-in conditioner would have been good, and a very wide toothed comb.
A small pack of wipes are nice in the morning before dressing and sunscreen. I took a baggie with presoaked cotton balls in astringent, which were perfect in the AM as well.
Bring a collapsible dog bowl for water at your tent, for wiping off your feet before bed, or watercolor sketching, or to help wash your hair if you can’t bend over that far. (Which reminds me, if you are not flexible or don’t have great balance, work on that before your trip, it’s paramount.)
Bring a few band-aids and a small tube of Neosporin. The guides have supplies, but it’s nice not to bother them for small things. I also carried Benadryl, Advil, Tylenol, and an ace bandage.
Drinks:
We were allowed to bring 36 cans (a box of wine counted as six) for the trip. Maybe two a day is all we consumed, one beer and maybe a canned wine or spritzer. Iced tea tasted good too. Things get cold in the river, but not icy cold. A Nalgene of bourbon is nice. On some nights you will be treated to ice.
Snacks:
Your outfitter will have ample snacks, but if you are a frequent eater like me, a few snack bars in your day pack are nice. I also took a ziplock bag of small apple sauce cups to eat in the AM while waiting for breakfast, then I was sure to get fruit every day.
Camp:
For making camp, I have a few suggestions. Cool, wettish sand by the water is optimal. You don’t need to drag your gear up a mountainside, unless that is your preference. Ask your guide if there will be fluctuations in the water level for the night, then pitch your tent or sleep under the stars, your choice. Randy liked having the tent up so we could throw our gear inside, so that’s what we did. You still have a great view of the stars with the door unzipped. Just do what makes you feel comfortable.
Gear:
A head lamp is a must, keep it in your toiletry bag. (I used a medium stuff sack.) Put it around your neck after you clean up, you’ll be ready for the dark. I took a travel pillow and was grateful, but I have a bum neck.
Use a small lightweight day pack for the boat and impromptu hiking, and use mini drybags inside to keep batteries and such dry, should you cross deep water. I also brought a sleep mask to keep a bright moon from keeping me awake.
If you plan to photograph the trip, think about taking 3-4 fully charged extra batteries. A solar charger works okay, but most of us had exhausted that resource before the trip was over. Don’t forget your charging cord.
I invested in an Olympus T-6 tough underwater camera, put a float wrist strap on it, and wore it on an adjustable lanyard around my neck. I dropped it, used it underwater, in the rapids, etc. I wanted no worries about losing or dropping an iPhone the water.
Photo tip: to sort thought your days of photos when you get home, be proactive. Take a photo or short video of each morning from your tent or resting place. If you are videoing, say what day it is, if you know. If you are filming the rapids, say the rapid name into the camera. You will not believe how fast the trip goes and how each day dissolves into another. Your photos and videos will help you remember.
A River Song:
The River’s too Wide
The river’s too wide now for crossing
The waters rush too loud for talking
We never build bridges for walking
‘Cause the river’s too wide
A gentle stream once flowed between us
But love could cross it easily
‘Til stormy skies brought bitter teardrops
And made that stream a raging river
Come between you and me
The river’s too wide now for crossing
The waters rush too loud for talking
We never build bridges for walking
There’s no getting to the other side
The river’s too wide now for crossing
The current goes too deep for mending
It looks like an unhappy ending
‘Cause the river’s too wide
Good lessons learned are not forgotten
We gave up love to save our pride
Next time I’m faced with rising waters
I’ll build a bridge of love and kindness
Reaching to the other side
The river’s too wide now for crossing
The waters rush too loud for talking
We never build bridges for walking
There’s no getting to the other side
The river’s too wide now for crossing
The current goes too deep for mending
It looks like an unhappy ending
‘Cause the river’s too wide
Songwriters: Bob Morrison
Suggested reading:
The Emerald Mile: The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon by Kevin Fedarko
The Secret Knowledge of Water by Craig Childs
Documentaries:
“Can’t Beat This Place for Fun” – Dory boat building in Flagstaff.
“The Weight of Water” – Our guide Harlan Taney helping a blind explorer kayak through the Grand Canyon.
“Into the Canyon” – Pete McBride and Kevin Fedarko hike the 750 length of the Grand Canyon.
Videos to help you prepare:
8 Days on the Grand Canyon – Motorized Rafting Trip, Beautiful Scenery, Canyon Hikes, Tips by ARoarHar on YouTube https://youtu.be/eAbJNXZY6ns
Dyana’s Video:
Green is the New Blue – Colorado River Rafting on Vimeo Dyana Hesson
